Employment Counsellor

Starting Salary: $56,366 - $57,495. Commensurate with experience
Hours: 35 hours per week
Location: Markham
Employment Type: Full-time – one-year contract (with possibility of full-time regular employment) 
Start Date: As soon as possible
Vacancy Type: Existing position

About JVS Toronto
At JVS Toronto, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to build a meaningful career. Since 1947, we’ve empowered thousands of individuals each year through employment, career development, and assessment services across Toronto and York Region. We also partner with businesses to help them find the talent they need to succeed.

As a registered charity, we’re proud to offer many of our services at no cost, thanks to generous funding. Learn more about our impact: www.jvstoronto.org.

Why Join Us?

• Generous Time Off – Start with three weeks of paid vacation, plus paid sick time, personal wellness days, and family-related leave, to support a healthy work–life balance.
• Benefits & Pension Plan – Access a health and dental benefits plan, an Employee Assistance Program, and a defined benefit pension plan with employer contributions. 
• Inclusive & Supportive Culture – Join a collaborative and inclusive organization committed to diversity, equity and belonging.
• Additional Perks – Access corporate discounts and other programs that support your overall well-being.

Eligibility for benefits, pension and time-off programs varies by employment status.

About the Program
The JVS Integrated Employment Services (IES), funded by MLITSD and managed by WCG, provides employment services to unemployed individuals of all ages, financial backgrounds and skills to help them gain and retain employment within their field or a related field. To achieve its goal, the program provides a range of services including one-on-one employment counselling, employment workshops, job development/placement services and job retention supports. In addition, IES collaborates with other programs to ensure efficient and smooth operations through streamlining client referrals to appropriate services.

YouthReach connects youth ages 15 to 30 with community services, schools, and businesses to help them achieve their goals. This position supports vulnerable youth in the City of Toronto, including those who are facing barriers to employment or progression in their lives due to past or present experiences of conflict with the law. The program assists youth by providing meaningful opportunities to enhance their workplace skills and achieve personal success through employment, accessing services, or enrolling in education or training. 

As an Employment Counsellor you will: 
•    Provide excellent customer service by helping vulnerable youth clarify needs and determine actions/solutions through assessment, case management, and counselling 
•    Collaborate with both YouthReach and IES teams to ensure smooth services to youth participants
•    Conduct intakes and Common Assessments, administer program activities both in the office and offsite in the community  
•    Provide individual employment counselling and case management duties, including information and referral services, monitor client progress with ongoing follow-up; produce statistical documentation
•    Conduct extensive outreach to recruit eligible clients and ensure program targets are met
•    Prepare and facilitate employability workshops on occasion; conduct program information sessions for community partners and prospective clients 
•    Attend external meetings and join community network groups; develop ongoing partnerships with youth-serving organizations and establish consistent referral pathways 
•    Carry out job matching activities to connect youth with employment opportunities or education/training; liaise with Job Developers for employer insights and potential job placements
•    Develop service plans that demonstrate the coordination of appropriate interventions to support employment goals; apply a variety of counselling techniques that encourages ongoing youth engagement
•    Collaborate with other JVS programs and community services to enhance client employment pathways and service plans
•    Maintain complete, updated client files, case notes, and documentation on a Salesforce database 
•    Have knowledge of current local labour market trends, community services, and resources across the City of Toronto 

Minimum Qualifications & Experience:  
•    Bachelor’s Degree or Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling or Social Services with placement experience, or a related degree with 3-5 years of counselling experience. International degrees must be evaluated for Canadian equivalency
•    Strong knowledge and understanding of current legislation relevant to youth who are in conflict with the law and the Youth Criminal Justice System
•    An understanding of barriers to employment success and knowledge of current local labor market trends, community services and resources
•    Ability to take innovative and resourceful approaches to assist youth with achieving their employment goals
•    Demonstrated understanding of the needs of vulnerable youth with an ability to develop and maintain relationships with young people
•    Possess current working knowledge of employment-related issues and learning approaches to support youth with developing job readiness skills 
•    Effective verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate with a varied client population and effectively deal with a variety of professional and psychosocial challenges
•    Sensitivity and tact to deal effectively with youth from different backgrounds and life circumstances and engage them in the employment counselling process
•    Strong customer service skills and experience taking initiative; demonstrated problem-solving and decision-making skills
•    Effective written and verbal communication skills; experience with writing reports to agency standards
•    Computer literate, proficient in Microsoft Office; ability to learn systems used by the agency (e.g. Salesforce)
•    A clear Vulnerable Sector Check is required for this position

Nice to Have:
•    Employment Ontario knowledge and exposure
•    Certification from an organization such as VRA Canada or ICCI 
•    A valid Ontario driver’s license and access to a vehicle would be an asset, as local travel is required